Help with orchid needed

I was given this orchid last Christmas and having at that stage not started my interest in gardening, once it had finished flowering, left it sitting in water for the next 5 months! It looked like it was going to die however having then discoverd this water I re-potted it and hoped for the best. By now half of it had shrivelled up so I cut half of that away and as you can see from the photos the other half of the shrivelled section is still there and still shrivelled. One of my questions is should I cut that away now, even though it has a leaf at the top, to allow the plant to concentrate more growth on the other healthy half. The amazing thing is that about six weeks ago I noticed a purpleish spike growing, shown in the photos which I think must be a flower spike. My second question is is it indeed a flower spike? Now that this very badly treated plant seems to be growing I am looking after it as best I can - if it does flower it will be my first Orchid! I have quite a good book on Orchids which talks about cutting away dead and old sections however it doesnt show anything like this shrivelled bit of mine, which I think is obviously due to being submerged and therefore unusual - The only thing I can add is that the shrivelled bit hasnt grown or changed at all since I rescued the plant. The leaf at the top is the same size and maybe a little darker. My theory is that if I cut it away since it is obviously a bulb or growing section on its own it will enable the plant to put more energy into the healthy part. Any advice on this will be much appreciated as I'm desperate to get the knife out!

 

I dont think I would cut off the shrivelled part.
The bulds tend to grow, and then flower, then another bulb or bulbs are formed which in turn flower. However the bulb only flowers once, and then slowly shrivels, but I wouldn't cut it off until its dead. Its not really taking growth away from the other part, it doing the opposite.
Its a job to tell, but that does look like a flower spike, not sure that it looks good though.
Has it got a name.....and dont say Fred :D

 

Angus :D

[ 19. January 2006, 07:55 PM: Message edited by: lisa0307 ]

 

Upper class, Henry? :D

 

Not sure of the name yet but i have this photo

 

I've moved over to your other thread now Charlie :D

 

your problem isn't the plant itself its the roots you need to sort out, when you potted up into a solid pot did you happen to take it out of a see through/ white pot? if you did thats why its suffering. this type of orchid relies on the algae growing on its roots, therefore the roots need light. don't submerse it in water, the best way to water is little and often.

 

Yes rudham1,
I came in a glass vase with moss on the top. I've now put it in a ceramic pot but its seems to be looking pretty good. Shall I change it back again?
Thanks for the help

 

I know they quite often are sold in clear pots, but I always repot them into ordinary pots, usually the ceramic type, and they dont seem to mind.
Must admit I have heard that theory,Rudham but I dont know that its true, I know most orchids have a relationship with fungus, and the epiphytic types roots tend to grow in light, but algae, I'm not sure.